Title 22 LAND USE
Chapter 22.30 STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIC LAND USES
22.30.050 Adult businesses.
This section provides comprehensive regulations applicable to and
regulating the location of adult businesses, and similar and related uses. These
regulations are in addition to all other provisions of this Title and apply to
the land uses listed in Table 2-2 (e.g., bookstores, motion picture theaters,
etc.) which, because of an emphasis or primary orientation of their
stock-in-trade or services offered, constitute adult businesses as defined in
this section. If any provisions of this section conflict with other applicable
provisions of this Title, the provisions of this section shall
prevail.
A. Regulated Uses. In the development and adoption of this section,
the board finds that adult businesses, because of their very nature, are
recognized as having serious objectionable operational characteristics,
particularly when several of them are concentrated under certain circumstances
thereby having a deleterious effect upon the adjacent areas. Special regulation
of these businesses is necessary to insure that these adverse effects will not
contribute to the blighting or downgrading of the surrounding neighborhoods. The
primary purpose of these regulations is to prevent the concentration or
clustering of these businesses in any one area.
B. Definitions. In addition
to the definitions in Article 8, the following words and phrases shall be
defined as follows for the purposes of this section, unless it is clearly
apparent from the context that another meaning is intended.
1. Adult
Bookstore. An establishment having as a substantial or significant portion of
its stock in trade, material which is distinguished or characterized by its
emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or relating to “specified sexual
activities” or “specified anatomical areas,” (as defined
below), or an establishment with a segment or section thereof devoted to the
sale or display of such material.
2. Adult Business. Any adult bookstore,
adult hotel or motel, adult motion picture arcade, adult motion picture theater,
cabaret, and model studio, but not including those uses or activities, the
regulation of which is preempted by state law.
3. Adult Hotel or Motel. A
hotel, motel or other overnight establishment, which provides, through closed
circuit television, or other media, material which is distinguished or
characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or relating to
“specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical
areas,” (as defined below), for observation by patrons
therein.
4. Adult Motion Picture Arcade. An establishment to which the
public is permitted or invited wherein coin or slug-operated or electronically,
electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines,
projectors, or other image-producing devices are maintained to show images to
five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and where the images so
displayed are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on depicting or
describing “special sexual activities” or “specified
anatomical areas,” (as defined below), for observation by patrons
therein.
5. Adult Motion Picture Theater. An establishment in an enclosed
building used for presenting material in the form of motion picture film, video
tape, slides or other similar means, which is distinguished or characterized by
an emphasis on matter depicting, describing, or relating to “specified
sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas,” (as
defined below), for observation by patrons therein.
6. Cabaret. A bar,
nightclub, theater or other establishment which features live performances by
topless and/or bottomless dancers, “go-go” dancers, exotic dancers,
strippers, or similar entertainers, where such performances are distinguished or
characterized by an emphasis on “specified sexual activities” or
“specified anatomical areas,” (as defined below), for observation by
patrons therein.
7. Material. Relative to adult businesses,
“material” shall mean and include, but not be limited to,
accessories, books, magazines, pamphlets, photographs, prints, drawings,
paintings, motion pictures, and video tapes, or any combination
thereof.
8. Model Studio. An establishment where, for any form of
consideration or gratuity, figure models who display “specified anatomical
areas” (as defined below) are provided to be observed, sketched, drawn,
painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by patrons paying such
consideration or gratuity.
9. Specified Anatomical Areas. Less than
completely and opaquely covered: human genitals, pubic region; buttock; female
breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; in combination
with human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and
opaquely covered.
10. Specified Sexual Activities. Human genitals in a state
of sexual stimulation or arousal; acts of human masturbation, sexual
intercourse, or sodomy; fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals,
pubic region, buttock, or female breasts.
C. Specific Regulations. In those
land use categories where adult businesses regulated by this section would
otherwise be an allowable, permitted, or conditional use under Table 2-2, it
shall be unlawful to cause or permit the establishment of any adult business if
the adult business is to be located within:
1. Five hundred of any land
located within any Residential category or residential zone district;
or
2. One thousand feet of any other adult business; or
3. One thousand
feet of any parcel on which there is located any public library or any public,
private, or parochial school or preschool; or
4. One thousand feet of any
parcel on which there is located a church or any non-commercial establishment
operated by a bona fide religious organization; or
5. One thousand feet of
any parcel or which there is located a city, district, or county owned, operated
and maintained public park, public playground, or other public facility.
The
“establishment” of any adult business shall include the opening of
such a business as a new business, the relocation of such a business, the
enlargement of such a business, or the conversion of an existing business
location to any adult business use.
The “enlargement” of any
adult business shall include an increase in the size of the building within
which the adult business is conducted by either construction or use of an
adjacent building or any portion thereof whether located on the same or an
adjacent parcel of land.
D. Measure of Distance. The distance between any
two adult businesses shall be measured in a straight line, without regard to
intervening structures, from the closest exterior structural wall of each
business. The distance between any adult business and any church, school, public
library, public park, public playground, public recreational facility,
Residential category, or residential zone district shall be measured in a
straight line, without regard to intervening structures, from the closest
exterior structural wall of the adult business to the closest property line of
the church, school, public library, public park, public playground, public
recreational facility, Residential category, or residential zone
district.
E. Waiver of Locational Provisions. Any property owner or
authorized agent may apply to the commission for waiver of the locational
provisions for adult businesses set forth in Subsection C.
1. Permit
Requirement. Use permit approval is required for a waiver of the locational
provisions set forth in Subsection C.
2. Application Content. The use permit
application is to include a description of the proposed adult business and the
reasons why the applicant feels that the location of the proposed business would
be consistent with the requirements and objectives of this
section.
3. Additional Notice. The public notice required for a public
hearing on a use permit by Section 22.70.060 shall include mailed notice to all
owners of property located within one thousand feet of the exterior boundaries
of the parcel on which the adult business is proposed to be
located.
4. Additional Findings Required. The commission may approve or
conditionally approve a use permit to waive any of the locational provisions of
this section if, in addition to the findings of fact required to be made by
Section 22.62.060.C.4, it makes findings of fact:
a. The proposed use will
not be contrary to the public interest or injurious to nearby properties, and
that the spirit and intent of this section will be observed.
b. The proposed
use will not enlarge or encourage the development of a “skid row”
area.
c. The establishment of an additional regulated use in the area will
not be contrary to any program of neighborhood conservation nor with it
interfere with any program of urban renewal. (Ord. 2982 § 1 (part),
2002)
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